Folding chair.



No. 855,770. PATENTED-JUNE 4, 1907.

W. GYMER. FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5 1906.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1 WITNESSES.

W A TTORNE Y5 No. 855.770. I I PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907. W. GYMER.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W1 T/VESSES: illiwrz/ 659771122; [NVENTOR A TTOR/VE Y5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed June 5, 1906. Serial No- 320,818.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, I/VILLIAM GYMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boulder Creek, in the county of Santa Cruz and State of California, have invented a new and useful Folding Chair, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to folding chairs and its object is to provide a device of this character which embodies supports, a seat, and a back, all of which may be collapsed to produce a compact bundle capable of being conveniently transported.

Another object is to form the chair of two separate portions, all the parts of each portion being permanently connected so that there is no danger of any of the parts becoming lost.

A still further object is to provide a chair, which, when set up, will be rigid and durable and will constitute a comfortable seat.

IVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a supporting section having legs movably connected to it and provided with suitable bracing means for holding them extended. A seat section is adapted to be locked upon the supporting sections by means of novel devices provided for that purpose and folding braces are connected to the seat sections and are adapted to be locked in engagement with the legs. A collapsible back is pivotally connected to and adapted to fold under the seat section and means are employed for securely fastening the back, when extended, to the seat section.

The invention also consists of certain other novel features of construction and combina tions of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the chair set up; Fig. 2 is a rear ele vation of the seat section and showing a portion of the back section in position; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation showing the manner of connecting the seat braces to the legs; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the seat and back sections partly collapsed or folded; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the supporting section inverted and partly folded; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of a seat securing button.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, A is a supporting section comprising a top strip 1 and legs 2. The top strip has recesses 3 cut into the ends thereof and adapted to receive the reduced ends 4 of the legs. of the top section 1 as shown at 5 and are adapted when extended to diverge toward their free ends, this result being obtained by beveling the lower surface of the top 1 longitudinally along both edges as shown at 6 and securing the hinges 5 to the beveled portions of the top. A transversely extending groove 7 is formed in the top 1 near each end and a keeper 8 in the form of a metallic strip extends over one side of each groove While mounted within each groove adjacent its other side are buttons 9 having shoulders 10 formed by their lower faces and from which extend tongues 11. Inclined eyes 12 extend from the ends of top 1 and jointed braces 13 connect the legs 2 of each pair. Jointed braces 14 also connect the upper portions of the legs with the lower face of top 1. The joints of all of these braces are knuckle joints so that the parts of the braces will be limited in their movement in one direction and thereby hold the legs in proper position when extended. A recess 15 is formed in the inher face of each leg 2 along the outer edge thereof and a face plate 16 is secured thereover and has an opening 17 therein of less ex tent than the recess 15. A button 18 is pivoted to each leg close to the recess 15 and is adapted to swing into position to close one side of the recess and of the opening 17.

A seat section B is used in connection with the support A and comprises a front panel 19 and a rear panel 20 both of which are connected by straps 21 which are hinged at their ends to the two panels and are adapted to be inserted into the grooves 7 and then slid laterally so as to assume positions beneath the Said legs are hinged to the lower face strips 8. They can then be locked by turn ing the buttons 9 to bring the shoulders 10 in contact therewith. The two panels 19 and 20 are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of top 1 so that after the straps 21 have been secured in place on said top the two panels will lie flush with the top and extend forward and rearward therefrom. The rear panel 20 is formed with substantially triangular recesses 22 in its rear edge adj acent one end and the center thereof and a triangular socket 23 is adapted to swing into each of these recesses, said. socket being connected to the panel 20 by a hinge 24L. Corresponding corners of the two sockets 23 are connected by a strip which is pivoted to them and a longitudinally slotted arm 26 is connectedto one end of strip 25 while a slotted plate 27 is pivoted to the other end of said strip. The slots in arm 26 and plate 27 receive the pivot pins 28 thereof and it is obvious that by swinging the arm 26, strip 25 or plate 27 the two sockets 23 can be swung into or outward from the recesses 22 simultaneously.

The front panel B is gradually diminished in thickness toward its front edge to facilitate folding of the chair and within the lower surface of this panel are alining grooves 29 in the outer ends of which are hinged brace arms 30 having T-shaped heads 31 at their free ends. When not in use these arms are adapted to be folded into the grooves 29 and to be retained therein by a button 32 arranged between the grooves. When the chair is set up the heads 31 are inserted laterally into the recesses 15 and openings 17 of the front legs 2 and are. locked therein by the buttons 18. Brace arms 33 are also hinged to the lower face of the rear panel 20 adjacent its ends and these arms are formed with similar T-shaped heads as shown in Fig. 3 adapted to be seated in the recesses 15 in the rear legs. When not in use the arms 33 are folded up against the panel 20 and between ears 34 extending downward therefrom as shown in Fig. 2. A button 35 is mounted upon the lower face of panel 20 and serves to lock the arms 33 when folded.

A back section 0 is used in connection with the seat section and is premanently but adjustably connected to it. Said back section comprises a standard 36 which is pivoted at one end upon a bolt 37 extending rearwardly from one end of the panel 20. A sleeve 38 is fixedly secured to the,upper end of this standard and has a leaf 39 hinged to it and a clip 40 arrnged on the outer side of the sleeve. Another sleeve 41 is slidably mounted on the standard 36 and has a leaf 42 hinged to it. A downwardly extending hook 43 is arranged upon the rear face of the standard 36 near the center thereof and a pivot pin 44 extends laterally from said standard and has a brace rod 45 pivoted to it. The lower end of this brace rod is enlarged to form a head 46 and is slit longitudinally as shown at 47. Head 46 is adapted to be compressed and inserted into one of the eyes 12 where it will remain be cause of the frictional contact exerted by the laterally ox ansiblo portions of the head 46. An intermediate standard 48 is connected to the standard 36 by means of crossed connecting strips 49 which are pivoted together at their centers. One strip 49 is pivoted at its upper end to leaf 39 and its lower end has a pivot pin 50 mounted to slide within a slot 51 in the lower portion of st ndard 48. The other strip 49 is pivoted at one end to the upper end of standard 48 and at its lower end to the leaf 42. An end standard 52 is formed at its upper end with a sleeve 53 fixedly connected thereto and having an ear .54 extending inward therefrom and a spring clip 55 extending outward. A sleeve 56 is slidably mounted on the lower portion of this standard 52 and has an ear 57. Crossed connecting strips 58 are interposed between standards 48 and 52 and are pivotally connected at their point of intersection. One of these strips is pivoted at its upper end to car 54 and at its lower end to pin 50 while the other strip 58 is pivoted at its upper end to the upper end of standard 48 and at its lower end to ear 57 A pivot pin 59 extends laterally from standard 52 and has a brace arm 60 mounted upon and formed with a slit head 61 adapted to engage one of the eyes 12. An upwardly extending hook 62 is arranged on the rear face of standard 52. A cross strip 63 is centrally fulcrumed upon standard 48 and is adapted to be swung into engagement with the two hooks 43 and 62 as shown in Fig. 1. The lower ends of standards 48 and 52 are shaped so as to fit within the sockets 23 when the same are projected from recesses 22 and a spring catch 64 is mounted in the lower end of standard 52 and is adapted to engage the socket of said standard to hold the back in proper position when set up. The upper ends of the standards 36, 48 and 52 are connected byjointed braces 65 which are pivoted to the standards. The members of these braces are connected by knuckle joints so that the same will be held substantially in alinement in order to hold the upper ends of the standards apart.

After the chair has been set up in the manner described as shown in Fig. 1 it can be quickly collapsed by first releasing the brace arms 30 and 33 from engagement with the legs 2 and then folding them upward against the lower faces of panels 19 and 20 and look ing them by means of buttons 32 and 35. Arms 60 are pulled out of engagement with eyes 12 and swung upward into engagement with clips 40 and 55 after which the buttons 9 are swung away from straps 21 and the two panels 19 and 20 pulled longitudinally so as to withdraw the straps from under the keepers or strips 8. The sections B and C will thus be raised from the supporting section A and by breaking the joints in the braces 13 and 14 the legs 2 can be folded upward against the top 1. The spring catch 64 is now pressed out of engagement with the socket 23 in which standard 52 is mounted and said standard as well as the standard 48 is lifted out of its socket and the two sockets swung into the recesses 22 as shown by full lines in Fig. 4. The joints and braces 65 are broken, cross strip 63 is swung into position parallel with brace 48 and the three standards 36, 48 and 52 are drawn together, this being permitted in view of the fact that the lower pivots of the strips 49 and 58 are movable. The entire back section is now swung downward with bolt 37 and its pivot until standard 36 comes into contact with a supporting plate 66 extending rearwardly from the panel 20. The standards 48 and 52 together with the parts connected thereto are then swung on the hinges 39 and 42 so as to assume positions beneath the panel 20 after which the panel 19 is folded upon the straps 21 and then on to the panel 20. The entire chair is thus folded into two compact bundles, one including the supporting means and the other the chair and back sections.

It will be seen that none of the parts of the chair are detachable from their sections and therefore there is no danger of portions of the chair becoming lost. If desired the supporting section A can be used as a seat without the necessity of employing the sections B and C.

It will be noted that one of each pair of braces has a tongue 65 extending from it adapted to be engaged by a sliding ring 65 for holding the braces of each pair rigidly when extended. The braces 13 and 14 may be provided with similar securing means if desired.

The preferred form of the invention has been set forth in the foregoing description but I do not limit myself thereto as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the claims.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a folding chair the combination with a collapsible supporting section; of a seat section detachably mounted thereon, said collapsible supporting section constituting a part of the seat of the chair.

2. In a folding chair the combination with a sectional seat, one of said sections being detachable from the others; of supporting foldable devices connected to the detachable section.

3. A folding chair comprising a sectional seat, one of said sections being interposed between and detachable from the other sections, and foldable supporting devices connected to the detachable section.

4. A folding chair comprising a sectional seat, one of said sections being interposed between and detachable from the other sections, and. collapsible supporting devices connected to the detachable section.

5. A folding chair comprising a sectional seat, one of said sections being interposed be tween and detachable from the other sections, supporting .devices connected and adapted to fold upon the detachable section, and. means for holding said dev ces projected from the detachable section.

6. A folding chair comprising a sectional seat, one of said sections being interposed between and detachable from the other sections, supporting devices connected and adapted to fold upon the detachable section, and fold able braces for rigidly holding said devices projected from the detachable section.

7. A folding chair comprising collapsible supporting devices, a top strip connected thereto, and connected seat sections extending in opposite directions from and flush with the top strip and detachable therefrom.

8. A folding chair comprising collapsible supporting devices, a top strip connected thereto, connected seat sections extending in opposite directions from and flush with the top strip, and means for detachably securing said sections and top strip together.

9. A folding chair comprising collapsible supporting devices, a top strip connected thereto, connected seat sections extending in opposite directions from and flush with the top strip, and means upon the top strip for detachably securing the seat sections together and holding them against independent longitudinal and lateral movement.

10. A folding chair comprising supporting devices, a top strip connected thereto, connected seat sections extending in opposite directions from and flush with the top strip, and foldable braces connected to the seat sections and detachably engaging the sup porting devices.

11. A folding chair comprising supporting devices, a top strip connected thereto, connected seat sections extending in opposite directions from and flush with the top strip, foldable braces connected to the seat sections and detachably engaging the supporting devices, and means upon the seat sections for holding the braces in folded position.

12. A folding chair comprising supporting devices, a top strip connected thereto, seat sections, connecting strips secured to said sections and extending transversely of the top strip, and means for locking the connecting strips upon the top strip.

13. A folding chair comprising supporting devices, a top strip connected thereto and having transverse grooves therein, connecting strips detachably seated within the grooves, seat sections hinged to said strips and disposed in the front and rear of the top strip, and means for detachably securing the connecting strips within the grooves.

14. A folding chair comprising supporting devices, a top strip connected thereto and having transverse grooves therein, connecting strips detachably seated within the grooves, seat sections hinged to said strips and disposed in the front and rear of the top strip, keepers overhanging the grooves, and means for securing the connecting strips beneath the keepers.

15. A folding chair comprising collapsible supporting devices, a top strip secured thereto, foldable seat sections detachable from the top strip and co-operating therewith to form a complete seat, and a collapsible back section pivotally connected to one of the seat sections and adapted to fold thereunder.

16. In a chair the combination with a seat having recesses in one edge, andsupporting devices; of sockets movably connected to the seat, means for simultaneously shifting the sockets into or out of the recesses, a collapsible back pivoted at one side to the seat and detachably mounted within the sockets, and means within the back to permit the same to be folded. upon the seat.

17. A folding chair comprising a seat having recesses in one edge, supporting devices for the seat, sockets movably connected to the seat, means for simultaneously moving said sockets into or out of the recesses, a standard pivotally connected to the seat, standards detachably mounted within the sockets, lazy tong connection between the standards, and means interposed between the standards for holding them normally spaced apart.

18. The combination with the seat of a chair having recesses therein, and sockets movably mounted within the recesses; of a standard pivotally connected to the seat, standards detachably mounted within the sockets, a lazy tong connection between the standards, a cross strip connected to one of the standards and detachably secured to the other standards, brace arms pivotally con nected to the standards and detachably engaging the seat.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM GYM ER.

Vitnesses:

SELDIN JoNEs, ARTHUR D. BOWDEN. 

